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Some mornings on my way to work, I drop by the local Jamba Juice store a block from my office and down 16 ounces of carrot juice and four ounces each of wheatgrass juice and a green tea energy drink. I drink this cocktail for overall health and vitality. The wheatgrass is full of vitamin K and amino acids, the carrot juice is packed with beta-carotene, and the green tea gives me a boost of caffeine and antioxidants to get my day started.
Celery Juice Lowers Blood Pressure
When you think about lowering blood pressure, celery probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But this crunchy vegetable deserves some serious attention. Loaded with potassium and magnesium, celery contains something even more important: 3-n-butyl-phthalide, a compound that relaxes the smooth muscle cells in the arterial walls, allowing the arteries to dilate and effectively lowering blood pressure.
One of the physicians at Whitaker Wellness decided to put celery to the test. Every day for a month, she and her father juiced and drank one bunch of celery, mixed with a little orange juice for flavor (it's somewhat bitter on its own). Her father's systolic blood pressure went from 148 to 128 and hers went from 120 to 105. Imagine results this dramatic without dangerous prescription drugs!
Another great juice for people with hypertension is Low-Sodium V8 Juice. It works on two fronts to lower blood pressure. First, it contains a particularly high dose of potassium (840 mg per eight ounces) that helps keep blood pressure in check. Second, according to a study recently published in JAMA, it is an effective blood thinner, which further contributes to its antihypertensive effects. For Ted, one of my longtime patients, simply drinking 12 ounces of Low-Sodium V8 Juice daily was enough to keep his blood pressure in the normal range.
Cabbage Juice Heals the Stomach
Roman statesman Cato the Elder wrote more than 2,000 years ago that, as a digestive aid, "Cabbage surpasses all vegetables." One reason is its high content of glutamine, an amino acid that serves as a primary fuel for the rapidly dividing cells of the GI mucosa. Multiple studies support cabbage's reputation as a therapy for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, especially ulcers, heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In one of them, cabbage juice healed peptic and duodenal ulcers in an incredible 92 percent of cases studied!
One person who swears by cabbage juice is a patient we'll call Betty, who was recently at the clinic. Betty was plagued with inflammation of the stomach lining and severe acid reflux. Her conventional doctor tried her on all the usual drugs, but nothing alleviated her pain or reduced the frequency of her episodes-until she came across an article on cabbage juice and decided to give it a shot.
Now whenever Betty has a flare-up, she drinks the juice from half a head of cabbage (yielding approximately four ounces of pleasant-tasting, slightly sweet juice) five times a day for about three days, in addition to copious amounts of water. This three day-regimen keeps her problem-free for eight or nine months-and I'll bet if she drank it religiously, she wouldn't have any problems at all.
Sauerkraut has also been touted for its ability to heal the stomach. In addition to the healthful compounds found in cabbage, this fermented food and its juice are also an excellent source of beneficial bacteria that nurture the GI tract. Eldon, a Health & Healing subscriber, eats it right from the jar to quell heartburn.
Cherry Juice Reduces Pain and Inflammation
Cherries make a mean pie, but a pain reliever? In recent years, cherries have been discovered to contain potent natural anti-inflammatory compounds called anthocyanins and other flavonoids that work on the same inflammation pathways as aspirin and NSAIDs to reduce pain. In fact, researchers from Michigan State University found that just 10 tart cherries pack the same pain-relieving punch as one or two aspirin-and offer a wallop of antioxidants to boot.
Cherries have also been shown to reduce gout. Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid, which crystallizes in the joints and causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation. In a study conducted at the University of California Davis, eating eight ounces of cherries significantly reduced levels of plasma urate, a marker of uric acid. Cherries also produced small but notable decreases in markers of inflammation.
Francis, a friend of mine, squelches the gout pain in his big toe by eating cherries. And J. Otto Garry, a subscriber from Tamarac, Florida, has had great success treating his arthritis with cherry juice. He drinks three ounces in the morning and another three ounces in the evening to reduce and prevent inflammation. He also includes cod liver oil in his juice and takes alfalfa tablets along with it, which add to its anti-inflammatory value.
Cranberry Juice for UTIs
Everybody knows that cranberry juice can prevent and treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), but have you ever wondered why? Cranberries contain a combination of anthocyanins (the phytonutrient that gives both cranberries and cherries their rich color) and a unique sugar called mannose. Together, these compounds are responsible for thwarting UTIs by making it impossible for bacteria to cling to the walls of the bladder and urinary tract.
Ann, a subscriber I met at a Subscriber Seminar a while back, told me she used to have frequent UTIs until she started keeping a bottle of unsweetened cranberry juice in her fridge. Now when she feels a flare-up coming on, she drinks a glass or two daily for a few days, and she never gets infections anymore.
Judicious Juicing
As a general rule of thumb, I don't recommend drinking a lot of fruit juice as it is loaded with sugar and calories. However, the juices listed above boast too many healing properties to ignore. Judicious juicing offers an easy way to drink to your health and naturally knock out many pressing health concerns. Bottoms up!
Recommendations:
*Some of the juices discussed here are already prepared. Look for Low-Sodium V8 in your grocery store. (Do not substitute regular V8; it contains way too much sodium. If your store doesn't carry it, ask them to order it for you.) You can find unsweetened cranberry and cherry juice at your local health food store. Cherry juice is also available from King Orchards, (877) 937-5464, mi-cherries.com.
*You're going to have to make your own cabbage and celery juice-and you can make your own cranberry and cherry juice from fresh or frozen cranberries and pitted cherries, if you'd like. There are many quality juicers available in department and specialty stores. Look for one that suits your lifestyle and specific needs.
*Suggested doses, taken daily or as needed, are as follows: celery juice from one bunch; cabbage, 4 ounces from one-half head, two to five times a day; sauerkraut, one cup (if you're going to do this regularly, you're better off with cabbage juice because sauerkraut contains a lot of sodium); unsweetened cherry juice, one-half to one cup; unsweetened cranberry juice, one-half to one cup. (If any of these juices are too tart, dilute with water and add a little stevia or xylitol to sweeten.)
參考譯文：
為了健康和活力，我每天早上都會在上班途中買一杯混合 16 盎司胡蘿卜汁、4 盎司小麥草汁和綠茶的有機果汁。小麥草豐富的維生素 K 及胺基酸、胡蘿卜的 β-胡蘿卜素，以及綠茶的咖啡因和抗氧化物都是我一天活力的來源。
芹菜汁降血壓
提到降血壓，吃芹菜可能不會是你第一個想到的方式，但是這種松脆的蔬菜確實值得受到一些關(guān)注。除了鉀和鎂之外，芹菜還有更重要的成分：3-丁基苯酞 (3-n-Butylphthalide)，這是一種可以放松動脈平滑肌細胞的化合物，幫助降低血壓。
一所健康機構(gòu)的醫(yī)師以芹菜做了一項實驗，為期一個月，她和父親每天喝下一杯芹菜和柳橙榨成的果汁，結(jié)果收縮壓分別降低了 20 毫米和 15 毫米。在不使用處方藥的情況下，你可以想象效果多么驚人。
低鈉 V8 果汁也是有益高血壓患者健康的果汁。它含有大量的鉀 (每 8 盎司 840 毫克) 能幫助抑制血壓；并且根據(jù)刊載于《美國醫(yī)學會期刊》的研究指出，它也是一種有效的抗凝血劑，可以進一步降低血壓。一位長期病患每天喝下 12 盎司低鈉 V8 果汁即足以將血壓保持在正常范圍。
高麗菜汁治胃病
羅馬政治家老加圖 (Cato the Elder) 在 2,000 多年前即寫到：「高麗菜幫助消化的功用遠超過所有的蔬菜。」原因之一即是其中豐富的谷氨酰胺 (Glutamine)，這是胃腸道黏膜細胞快速分裂時的主要能量來源。目前已經(jīng)有很多研究證實，高麗菜在治療胃腸道疾病的效用，特別是胃潰瘍、胃灼熱及胃食道逆流 (GERD)。在一項研究中，高麗菜汁成功治愈了高達 92% 的消化性潰瘍 (Peptic) 及十二指腸潰瘍 (Duodenal) 病例。
先前即有一名身受胃壁發(fā)炎及嚴重的胃酸逆流所苦的患者，在嘗試過所有的藥物都不能緩解她的痛苦或是癥狀之后，偶然看到了一篇有關(guān)高麗菜汁的文章并決定試看看，因而獲得了重生的機會。
這名患者只要一發(fā)病，除了大量的水之外，還會喝下半顆高麗菜榨成的蔬菜汁 (大約 4 盎司的微甜蔬菜汁)，每天 5 次，連續(xù) 3 天。八、九個月后她的胃病就消失了。我相信如果她持續(xù)飲用，這毛病也不會再復發(fā)。
德國泡菜 (Sauerkraut) 也因為有治胃的功效而家喻戶曉。除了高麗菜中有益健康的化合物之外，這種發(fā)酵食品和它的汁液也富含保健胃腸道的益菌。奉行健康療法的艾登 (Eldon) 就直接食用德國泡菜來減輕潰瘍的癥狀。
櫻桃汁減緩疼痛和發(fā)炎癥狀
櫻桃除了拿來做美味的派之外，還可以止痛？不要懷疑，近幾年櫻桃被發(fā)現(xiàn)含有豐富的天然抗炎化合物花青素 (Anthocyanin) 及其它黃酮類化合物 (Flavonoid)。它們和阿司匹林及非類固醇消炎止痛劑 (NSAID) 一樣，能減緩發(fā)炎和疼痛。事實上，密執(zhí)安州立大學的研究人員已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)，10 顆酸櫻桃的止痛效果就和一、兩顆阿司匹林一樣，而且還能增進抗氧化作用。
櫻桃也被發(fā)現(xiàn)能夠減緩痛風 (Gout) 癥狀。痛風是由于尿酸增加，并且在關(guān)節(jié)結(jié)晶而造成疼痛、僵硬和發(fā)炎的癥狀。加州大學戴維斯分校的一項研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，食用 8 盎司的櫻桃可以大幅降低尿酸的濃度，并且減少些許發(fā)炎的情況。
先前一名患者即以櫻桃減輕了腳拇指的痛風癥狀，另一名來自佛羅里達州的患者也非常成功地以櫻桃汁治療了關(guān)節(jié)炎 (Arthritis)，他早晚各喝 3 盎司以減緩及預防發(fā)炎，還在果汁中加了魚肝油，并且和苜蓿粒 (Alfalfa) 一起服用，增加抗炎的效用。
蔓越莓汁預防泌尿道感染 (UTI)
每個人都知道蔓越莓能預防和治療泌尿道感染，但是你曾經(jīng)想過為什么嗎？這是因為蔓越莓含有一種花青素復合物 (蔓越莓和櫻桃的顏色來源) 及一種稱作甘露糖 (Mannose) 的獨特醣類，可以防止病菌附著在膀胱及泌尿道而預防感染。
先前有一名患者表示她過去常身受泌尿道感染所苦，直到她開始在冰箱放無糖蔓越莓汁之后才獲得改善；現(xiàn)在每當她發(fā)覺癥狀發(fā)作，就會每天喝一、兩杯，連續(xù)喝個幾天，從此之后她再也沒有受過感染。
榨出好果汁
如同老生常談的一樣，我并不建議喝太多果汁，因為其中含有大量的糖分及熱量。但是上述那些果汁的治療功效又讓人趨之若鶩，因此以下即介紹如何用簡單的方式榨出健康的好果汁，讓你天然保健，健康沒煩惱。現(xiàn)在就來一起來動手吧！
建議方式：
＊尋找市面上的低鈉 V8 果汁。(千萬不要用一般的 V8 果汁，因為鈉含量太高。如果沒有現(xiàn)貨，可以請店家?guī)兔Υ啞? 并且在當?shù)氐慕】凳称返陮ふ覠o糖的蔓越莓汁和櫻桃汁，或是自己以新鮮或是冷凍的蔓越莓和去核櫻桃榨汁。
＊ 高麗菜汁和芹菜汁就需要自己動手做了。市面上有很多種果汁機，只要依照自己的喜好和需求挑選適合的即可。
＊ 每日攝取量建議如下：1 把芹菜汁；4 盎司 (大約半顆) 高麗菜汁，一天 2 至 5 杯；1 杯德國泡菜汁 (如果要定時飲用，喝高麗菜汁比較好，因為泡菜的鈉含量很高)；無糖櫻桃汁，半杯至 1 杯；無糖蔓越莓汁，半杯至 1 杯。(如果覺得太酸，可以加水稀釋，然后加一點甜菊或是木糖醇。)
